Dispensing apparatus



Jan, 27, 1925.

G. .L BOHLMAN DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Sept. `29, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 jr ven for',

G. J. BOHLMAN DISPENSING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Shut 2 Filed Sept. 29, 1921 .Ildlldffd'farn t ,lilla/frre. r I lll-l vez? of,

Jan, 27, 1925.

c5. J. BOHLMAN DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 29, 1921 3 Sheecswheet 3 Bil Patented Jan. 27, 1925.

U N IT E D S T @EOE Il'. BOHLMAN, OIF MEDFORD, MASSHUSETTS, MSSIIGNOR T0 ICN ATER SUPPLY CO., OF CBRIJDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, di. CORPDEIATJIUMQOF MMSS- CH'USETTS.

DISPENSING APPATUS.

Application tiled September 29, 1921.

To all lwhom'z't may Concern:

a citizen of the United States, residing at Medford, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massacliusetts, have invented an improvement in Dispensing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This ilivention relates to dispensing apparatus and has especial reference to a dispensing device adapted to hold a nested supply of paper cups havin outwardly dared upper edges and deliver t em one at a time.

An object of this invention is to provide a paper cup dispenser in which the cups are entirely enclosed and protected from soil and which has means arranged to deliver a single cup at a time.

i further object of the invention is to provide a cup dispenser in which but one hand of the operative is required 'to edect the delivery of a cu and the cup is delivered into that han or in which ar cup holder may be employed to effect the delivery of a cup and the cup will be delivered into the holder.

It further object of the invention is to provide simple and edective means positively to deliver a single cup at an operation.

il. further object is generally to improve the construction and operation of dispensing apparatus for paper cups.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a dispensing apparatus embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the dispensing apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 with the tubular glass container broken away.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the dispensing ap* paratus with the glass container removed.

Fig. 4l is a' vertical section along line t--ll of Fig. 3. c

- Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 and illustrating the manner of operating the dispensing apparatus with a cup holder and the position of the latches when the lowerniost cup of the stack is released to drop into the cup holder.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 and illustrating the posit-ion of the latches in which the support of the stack of cups 1s about to 'be transferred from the upper to the lower latches.

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation 0f the diS- Serial 1li o. 504,06@

pensing apparatus illustrating more particularly a modified form of latch.

Fig. 8 is a section along line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an elevation of the dispensing lapparatus illustrating more particularly means for attaching it in vertical position to a support.

Fig. l() is a front view of a supporting bracket for the dispensing apparatus.

As here shown, the dispensing apparatus embodying the invention includes the tubular housing 10 adapted to contain the cup delivery mechanism; 'and said housing is adapted to be secured in vertical posit-ion 'tol a support by any suitable means. Said housing is open at the top and a tubular glass container l1, preferably closed at its upper end, is adapted to be received removably in inverted position within the open end thereof to rest upon an internal ring or annular ledge 12 formed on or secured to the inner face of said housing. Preferably a resilient gasket 13 is interposed between saidring and the end of said glass container. The lower end of the side wall of said housing is formed with an internal bead lll or otherwise arranged to forni a guide for an operating member; and the diameterof the housing at said ring 12 and bead 1tare adapted to be substantially equal whereby to cooperate in supporting the operating member movably in position 4within the housing.

The operatin member comprises the tube 15 vertically disposed within said housing and guided for vertical reciprocatory movement by said bead 141 and ring l2. Said tube has the cup delivery passage 15a therein and the lower portion of said tube 15 is extended below the lower end of said housing for manual engagement for vertical movement within the housing to e'ect the delivery of cups from the bottom opening of said delivery passage. Preferably the side wall of said tube 15 is dared outwardly to form an external annular flange 16; and a ring 17 of rubber or other suitable yielding material may be arranged thereon to be engaged by the hand or by a cup-holder for the operation of said tube for the delivery of cupsy into the hand or holder. Meansn lUO as the screw 18, ma be secured in said housing 10 and project into a slot 19 in said tube whereby to limit the extent of reciprocatory movement ofthe tube and retain the tube against angular movement in the housing.

A .vertical stack of nested cups 20 is adapted to be contained in the dispensing apparatus within theglass container 11, the housin 10 and within the upper portion of the de ivery passage 15 of said tube 15; and the diameter of said delivery passa e is adapted to be such that the cups it free y therein.

The cups here shown have frustro-conical body-portions and the rolled-over or beaded top edges 21 which project outwardly beyond the cup bodies; and the dimensions of the cups' are such that, when nested one within the other, the beaded top edges are separated one above the other a substantial distance. While I have herein illustrated a specific type of cup, other types of cu s may be dispensed by my apparatus, and t e specific ty e of cup is unimportant. v

The tubular operating member 15 is adapted to extend downwardly below the bottom of the lowermost cup of the stack whereby the exterior of said cup will be protected from soil and from manual enagement' and the cups are adapted to be discharged from the open bottom of said operating member into that hand of the the operative which manipulates the operating member or -into a cup holder which is pressed upwardly against said operating member.

Means are provided to eifect the delivery of the lowermost cups of the stack one by one through the open end of said operating member 15. Said means includes the lower set of latches 25 and the upper set of latches 26 arranged in three groups equally spaced about the housing 10. The latches of each set are substantially identical and are formed .of strips of spring material having end-portions 27 and 28 secured to the inner face of the side wall of said housing 10 intermediate the ends thereof by suitable means as the rivets 29. The free end-portions are reiiexed to form the latch-portions 30 and 31 and the spring-tension of said latches is adapted to be such that the latchportions thereof are normally pressed toward a position to engage the under side of the beads 21 of the'cups 20 contained within the tube 15. The latch-portion 31 1s ad ted to be disposed above the latchortion 30 and the distance between said etch-portions is preferably slightly greater than the thickness of a bead 21 of the cups. Said latches 25 and 26 are reflexed to rovide the inclined 'cam-portions 32 an 33 intermediate the ends of the latches bv which said latches are o erated to'retaiii and release the cups. aid tube 15 is cup of the stack the tu formed with slots 34 in its side wall intermediate the ends thereof through which the latches are adapted to project to engage the cups; and the lower edges 35 and the u per edges 36 of said slots are to orm cam-faces to engage the cam-portions 32 of the lower latches and cam-portions 33 of the upper latches respectively by a reciprocatory movement of said tube in both directions to effect the operation of the latches.

`In the normal condition of the dispensing apparatus, the tube 15 is in its lowest sition, see Fig. 2, with the upper edge 0 the' slot 19 against the screw 18. In such position the upper edges 36 of the slots 34 in said tube are in engagement with the camportions 33 of the up er latches 26 t0 withdraw and hold said atches from enga position with the cups 20. The lengtE o said slots 34 is such, however, that the lower latches 25 e extended within said slots and in position beneath and in engagement with the bead of the lowermost cup of the stack; and the stack is supported in sition in the dispensing apparatus by sai lower latches.

To effect the deliver of the lowermost 15 is moved u ward by ressin the hand, or it may the rim o a cu holder A against the lowei` and exposed ge of the tube, or against the resilient ring 17. 4In the upward movement of the tube, the lower edges 35 of the slots 34 are moved against the cam-portion 32 of the lower latches 25 to effect the withdrawal of the latch-portions 30 thereof from engagement with the bead of the lowemost cup of the stack. At the same time, the upper edge portions 36 of the slots 34 move over the cam-portions 33 of the upper latches 26 and permit them to extend to a position under the bead of the next lowermost cup of the stack, as illustrated in Fig. 5. The timing of the operation of said latches is such that the u per latches are. in position beneath the bea .of the second lowermost cup to support the stack before the lower latches haveI been withdrawn from supporting position. Preferably -the timing is such that one set of latches is in position before the other set is moved.; or the sets of latches are operated in succession. When the tube 15 has been moved upwardly suiiiciently4 to move the lower'latches from engagement with the lowermost cup, `the stack will drop down and rest upon the upper latches and the lowermost cup is free to drop downwardly through the o n bottom of the tube 15 and, into the and or into the cup holder that has preed the tube upewardly, as illustrated in Fig. .6. The tu 15 may now be released and will drop byits weight and in moving to its low position will operate the latches to position the lower latches into a cup-engaging to eti'ect its delivery and said means may` be desirable especially if the cups are coated with parain and consequently have a tendency to adhere when nested, especially in hot weather. Said means may comprise the spring linger 40 having one end thereof suitably secured to the outer face of the side wall of the tube l5 intermediate the ends thereof and having its free end reflexed to provide the latch-portion 4l which is adapted to extend through a slot 42 into the interior of said tube. Said latchportion 4l is adapted to be moved outwardly in the'slot 42 by the bead of the lowermost cup of the stack when the tube is moved upward and then spring into a position above the bead of said cup as shown in Fig. 6. `When the tube l5 is released and drops downwardly by its weight, said latch portion 41 will engage the upper face of the bead of the cup and positively remove or strip it from the stack.

When the dispensing apparatus is manipulated to deliver a cup directly into a cup h/olderpfor which it is particularly adapted, the cup-holder t will be placed with its rim against the lower end of the tube l5, and the interior of the holder aligned with the interior of the tube l5 as illustrated in Fig. 6. By pressing said holder upwardly the lowerrnost cup of the stack is caused to drop downwardly directly into the cup-holder without further manipulation on the part of the operative. ln practice the positioning of the cupholder against the tube l5 and the following upward movement of said tube will be performed in an uninterrupted manner and as one motion, and the holder will be withdrawn with the cup in position therein.

ln the modification illustrated in lig. 7, the latches a and 26". corresponding to the latches and 26 respectively, are formed as non-resilient members pivotally supported by the housing 10. rThe endportions of said latches comprise cam' portions 32*l and 33a and are arranged to be engaged by the tube 15b, corresponding to tube l5, for operation in a manner which is obvious when considered in connection with the operation of the latches 25 and 26 above set forth.

rll`he dispensing apparatus is adapted to be secured in a vertical position toa support by suitable means as the bracket 45.

Said bracket may be secured permanently to the support and the dispensing apparatus secured removably to said bracket. For this purpose the housing l0 may be provided with the upper screw hole 46 in its side wall and the lower and enlarged hole 47 having the slot 48 in communication with said hole. The bracket may have extended therefrom the screw or'rivet 49 provided with `the enlarged head 50, and the head 50 is adapted to enter the hole 4T and the housing ma then be moved downwardly to cause the liody of said screw 0r rivet 49 to enter the slot 48. rll`he head 50 will retain the housing in engagement with said bracket. 'llhe upper screw hole 46 may align with a corresponding threaded hole in the bracket and a screw 5l may be passed through said hole 46 and threaded into the hole in the bracket whereby iinally to secure said housing and bracket together.

Forvsome purposes the bracket may be omitted and the housing 10 secured directly to a support in a similar manner.

rllhe invention may be contained in other modilications without departing from the spirit thereof.

ll claim:

l. A dispensing apparatus including, in

combination, a support for a stack of articles such as cups and having a delivery opening through. which the cups may fall freely by gravity when released, cup rele'asing mechanism including a plurality of detents, one of which is adapted to engage. with a terminal cup for restraining the stack in supported position and another of said detente being adapted to engage with the neat successive cup to restrain the stack when the terminal cup is released, and mechanism for operating said detents to slack releasing and supporting positions respectively in alternation to release successive terminal cups while continuously supporting the stack,said detentI operating mechanism including a movable operating member slidably mounted for movement longitudinally of the stack support and having a manually engageable operating part lying in juxtaposition to said delivery opening so a manual operating agency engaging with said operating part may catch the cup as it falls freely through the delivery openmg.

2. Dispensing apparatus having means to contain a supply of cups 'and provided with a delivery opening, means to effect the delivery of single cups from said containing means through said delivery opening including a tubular manually-operable operating member, said operating` member being movablein the delivery opening, and extending beyond the cup containingmeans to be engaged at its outer end by the hand thereby to operate the member and to relun lli)

lill) peive a cup delivered through the said memer. v

3. Dispensing ap aratus h'aving means to contain a supply o cups and provided with a delivery opening, means to effect the separation of sin le cups from the supply and the delivery o said cups by gravity through said delivery opening, said separating means including a tubular manually-operable operating member extending through said delivery opening and operab e to cause a cup to fall into the hand that operates said operating member. p

4. A dispensing apparatus including, in combination, a support for a stack of articles such as cups and having a deliver opening through which the cups m'ay fal freely by glravity when released, cup releasing mec anism including a plurality of detents, one of which is adapted to enga ewith a terminal cup for restraining t e stack in supported position and another of said detents being adapted to engage with the next successive cup to restrain tlie stack when the terminal cup is released, and mechanism for o erating said detents to stack releasing an supporting positions respectively in alternation to release successive terminal cups while continuously supplorting the stack, said detent operating mec anism including a tabular operating member mounted for telescopic movement with said stack support and extendin beyond said delivery opening, said ta ular operating member having a m'anually enying 1n juxtapo gageable operating part sition to said delivery opening so a manual operating agency engaging with said operating part may catch the cup as it falls freely through the delivery opening.

5. A dispensing apparatus including, in combination, 4a support for a stack of articles such as cups and having a deliver opeiiin through which the cups may fal freely y glravity when released, cup releasing mec anism including a plurality of detents, one of `which is 'adapte to engage with a terminal cup for restraining the stack in supported position and another of said detents being adapted to engage with the next successive cup to restrain the stock when the terminal cup is released, and mechanism for operating said detents to stack releasing and suporting positions respectively in alternation to release successive terminal cups while continuously supporting the stack, said detent operating mechanism including a movable operating member havin a manually engageable o erating part lying in juxtaposition to said elivery opening so a manual operating agency engaging with said o erating part may catch the cup as it fal s freely through the delivery opening.

6. A dispensing apparatus including, in

. openin combination, a support for a stack of articles such as cups and having a delive openin through which the cups may fal freely y avity when released, cup releasing mec anism including la lurality of detents, one of which is ladapted to enga e with a terminal cup for restraining t e stack in supported position and `another of said detents being adapted to engage with the next successive cup to restrain the stack when the terminal cup is released, mechanism for o erating said detents to stack releasing lan supporting positions respectively in alternation to release successive terminal cups while continuously supporting the stac said detent operating mechanism including a movable operating member slidably mounted for movement longitudinally of the stack support and having a manually engageable o erating part lying in juxtaposition to sai delivery openi So a manual operating agency engaging wit said operating part may catch the cup as it falls freely through the delivery opening, and a detaching member operable by said slidably mounted member for engagement with and positive detachment of a terminal cup from the stack.

7. AA dispensing apparatus including, in combination, a support for a stack of articles such as cups `and having a delive through which the cu s may fal freely y gravity when releases from said support, escapement mechanism including a plurality of detents for continuously restraining said stack in supported position, and means for operating said escapement mechanism to release the terminal cup while the stack is still supported by one of said detents, said escapement operatin mechanism including a movable member avin a manually engageable operating part lying.

in juxtaposition to said delivery opening so a manual operating agency engaging with said 'o eratin part. may catch the cup as it fa free y through the-delivery opening.

8. A despensing apparatus including, in combination, a support for a stack of articles such; as cups and having a deliver opening) through which the cups may fnl freely y gravity when released, cu releasing mechanism including a plurality of de tents, one of which is adapted to enga with a terminal cup for restraining t e -stack in supported position and another of said detents being adapted to engage with the next successive cup to restrain the stack when the terminal cup is released, and mechanism for operating said detents to stack releasing and supporting positions respectively in alternation to release successive terminal cups while continuously sup orting the stack, said detent operating mec ianism including a movable operating inenten member slidably mounted for movement longitudinally oia the stack support and having a manually engageable operating part lying in juxtaposition to said delivery opening so a manual operating agency engaging with said operating part may catch the cup as it falls t'reely through the delivery open ing9 said slidably mounted member having cam formations cooperating operativelyI with said detente.

9.. A dispensing apparatus including'a in combination, a support tor a stach of articles such as cups and having a delivery opening through which the cups may tall' freely by gravity when released, cup releasing mechanism including a plurality ot detents, one of which is adapted to en age with a terminal cup for restraining t e stach in supported position and another of said detents being adapted to engage with the next successive cup to restrain the stach when the terminal cup is released, mechanism lor operating said detents to stach releasing and supporting positions respectively in alternation to release successive terminal cu s while continuously supporting the stac, said detent-operating mech= anism including a movable operating member slidably mounted for movement longi-J tudinally of the stack support and having a manually engageable operating part in lying in juxtaposition to said delivery opening so a manual operating agency engaging with 'said operating part may catch the cup as it falls freely through the delivery opening, said slidably mounted member having cam formations cooperating operatively with said detente, and a detaching member operable by said slidably mounted member itor engagement with and positive detachment of a terminal cupA from the stach..

l0, Dispensing apparatus having a vertically-disposed tubular container adapted to receive a vertical stack of nested cups, a tubular operatin member vertically reciprocably receive' in the lower portion o said container adapted vto enclose the lower portion of the cup stach, said tubular operating member having a slot therein, and cup-delivery mechanism including latches carried by said tubular container having latch-portions arranged to extend through'said slot for engagement with cups ol". the cup stack and cam-portions engageable with said tubular operating member to edect the delive oi the lowermost cup et the stack and ille retention oil the remaining cups olf' the stach,I

ll.. Dispensing apparatus i1 g a vertically-disposed tubular container adapted to receive a vertical stack ot nested cups, a tubular operating member vertically re ciprocably received in the lower portion ot said container adapted to enclose the lower portion ot' the cup stach, said tubular operating member having a slot in its side wall, and cup-delivery mechanism include ing upper and lower latches carried by said tubular container having latch-portions' arranged to entend through said slot tor engagement with the cups ot the cup stach and having cam-portions arranged to be engaged by the edge-portions ot said slot, said operating member arranged to operate said latches in an upward movement thereor to cause the upper latch to engage the nentfto the lowermost cup ont the stack and cause the lower latch to release the lower most cup of the stack whereby it will drop through said operating member and in a downward movement or said operating member ed'ect the movement ot said lower latch into cup-engaging position and re move said upper latch from cup-engaging position to permit the cup stack to drop lowi upon and be supported by said lower atc 12. Dispensing apparatus havin a vertically-disposed tubular container a apted to receive a vertical stack of nested cups, a

tubular operating member vertically reciprocably received in the lower portion ci said container adapted to enclose the lower portion ot the cup stack, said tubular operating member having a slot in its side wall, and cup-delivery mechanism including latches comprising spring-members secured to the side walls 0l" vsaid tubular container having latch-portions adapted to project through said slot into the interior of said tubular operating member for en a ement with the cups oir' the stack, said atches also having intermediate cam-portions arranged to be engaged by the edge-portions ot the slot in said tubular operating member, said tubular operating member arranged to be moved upwardly to transfer the support of the cup stack from the lower to the upper latch and remove the support from the lowermost cup of the stach to edectithe delivery thereof through said tubular operating member, and arranged to move downwardly to transfer the support ot the cup stach from the upper to the lower latch ln testimony whereof, ll have signed my name to this specification.

GERGE d., BUlHJMdN,

dll 

